Tips for getting the spark plugs out

[JoshM]

Hi everyone,

First time poster. I have an 89 hawk that is mostly stock, though that is soon to change with some suspension goodies on the way.

Does anyone have any tips for getting the spark plugs in and out of the "deep" sockets (i.e. the left front and right rear plugs)? I managed to do it after fiddling with them for an incredibly long time, but there must be a better way to do it. It seems like the plug wrench that comes with the stock tool kit is too short to reach.

Any suggestions for future plug changes?

Thanks, Josh M.

[ccolwell]

That's about the size of it. I've actually never found a better tool than the one in the tool kit. You could try the old trick of using a piece of rubber hose over the plu to get it started when you put the new one in.

[augustiron]

take an 18mm deep socket and grind a large radius on the top edge from the square of the 3/8 hole on down, round off that whole top edge This allows the socket to make thedown into the head easier with the valve covers still on. A wobble socket extension also helps get in there (Snap on makes them, they are awsome!)
a rubber insert placed in the socket like is in a normal spark plug socket will hold the plug on the way in and out.

[JoshM]

Thanks for the replies, folks. I have a wobble extension and that did help quite a bit...I don't think I'd be able to do it at all without that. I forgot about the old rubber hose trick; that will definitely help with threading the plug into the hole. I also kind of figured that making my own tool might be necessary...I have a Craftsman 18 mm plug socket, but the walls are too thick for it to work really well...finding a thinner one or shaving it down would probably help a lot.

Josh M.